Lack of fuel hindering enforcement of Covid-19 guidelines in Kigezi

Kabale, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The enforcement of the Covid-19 guidelines in the Kigezi region is being hindered by lack of fuel.

Implementation of guidelines in the region especially curfew and transport are being handled by the Police and Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) personnel. The guidelines compelled security to increase patrols in all districts and borders.

However, sources in security indicate that they have no fuel to facilitate full-time patrols.

A junior police officer attached to the Field Force Unit (FFU) department at Kabale Central Police Station who spoke on condition of anonymity says that due to lack of fuel, they have scaled-down patrols in trading centres.

The source also says that efforts by the police to drive through sub-counties with megaphones sensitizing the community about the pandemic are hitting a snag due to lack of fuel.

He adds that the sensitization is only being conducted in Kabale town twice a day.

Another police officer attached to the FFU department who preferred anonymity says that the 20 litres they receive each day to do normal police work is not enough to carry out patrols across the whole district. He says that they require at least 50 litres per day to traverse the whole district.

Major General Francis Takirwa, the Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) 2nd Division Commander, who is also the chairperson for Western region’s Covid-19 taskforce says that following the president’s directives, security personnel were forced to intensify patrols across the region. He says that they carry out patrols more than seven times which requires enough fuel.

Elly Maate, the Kigezi Region Police Spokesperson says that despite the fuel crisis, security is still doing what it can to make sure that the guidelines are observed in the region. Maate however says that the matter has already been forwarded to top security officials at the headquarters and will soon be solved.

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